Starting a sorority- help!!!

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by bianca131

I just dont know if I should say which sorority. .

No, you shouldn't!


I'd like to be supportive of new local sororities but it seems these days that everyone and their mother wants to start one or quickly join a regional one. I often wonder how many of these women have taken the time to really consider what they are doing. Greek letters on a sweatshirt don't make a sorority. As someone else has pointed out, you're putting the cart before the horse.

Reviewing the history of the founding any of the NPCs or the long-standing locals might help put some things into perspective. There's a reason why these organizations have flourished and why so many others have not.

It seems these days that everyone wants instant gratification; grab some letters and insta-sorority!

To the OP, I wish you success but I hope you'll slow down a bit and give the whole thing some serious thought. (And do some research.)

[bianca131]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

No, you shouldn't!


I'd like to be supportive of new local sororities but it seems these days that everyone and their mother wants to start one or quickly join a regional one. I often wonder how many of these women have taken the time to really consider what they are doing. Greek letters on a sweatshirt don't make a sorority. As someone else has pointed out, you're putting the cart before the horse.

Reviewing the history of the founding any of the NPCs or the long-standing locals might help put some things into perspective. There's a reason why these organizations have flourished and why so many others have not.

It seems these days that everyone wants instant gratification; grab some letters and insta-sorority!

To the OP, I wish you success but I hope you'll slow down a bit and give the whole thing some serious thought. (And do some research.)

I understand this completely and I have given this a lot of thought. I'm not rushing, I just wanted some advice and help on what I should do. I was planning to take this whole semester to do more research. I also was planning to set a meeting with few girls who share my idea and come up with a reason as to why. Although I know myself as to why, and it has nothing to do with the other sororities I didn't like. But thank you.

[adpiucf]

I think it is a very honorable intention to start a women's organization, but there are national sisterhood groups out there that don't fall into the traditional social sorority scene that your campus currently prohibits. Why not look at one of these instead? You can possibly receive student gov't funding and university recognition, as well as traditional, history and guidance from alumnae members.

Some friendly advice: You're in school to get an education. Please remember that. Too many people allow the running of their organization to consume their lives. It is a great thing to be involved in an activity, but that's not going to do much for you when it comes time to apply to grad school or get a job if you barely scraped by with the bare minimum GPA and no internships or networking contacts. A sorority can "help" with the networking, but it doesn't guarantee you an interview or a job.

While I whole-heartedly endorse joining locals, I don't recommend starting a local. It is a lot of work, and you have no guidance or assurance to fall back on if something goes wrong with the group, or if something happens to endanger the group. A local that has more history has alumnae support and its history to guide it. A national that is just colonizing has local and national alumnae support to guide it, as well as the history. But I think, after reading "Rush at UCSC," you should think twice about taking on this task. 4 years goes by very quickly-- take advantage of the campus resources that will help you move into a career.

A sorority, local or national, will help you develop excellent planning and interview skills, poise and self-discipline, as well as teach you how to work well with women. But starting one is a huge endeavor.